I submitted a paper to one of Elsevier’s journals. After a couple of days, its status changed to “with editor”. But now after about ten days from the submission date, it changed to “Decision in Process”. Is there any hope that it will not be rejected?

1 Answer
1

If there is a decision before it was sent to reviewers, it usually means a desk-rejection. This is not necessarily a bad outcome! It means you won't waste time on a review process that is not likely to be favorable and you can move straight ahead to another journal.

Other more rare outcomes are possible, though: they could issue a "reject and resubmit" if they think the paper would be a good candidate for review after some major changes were made. They could also be inviting you to a special issue etc.

A "resubmit to journal X" is also possible, if editor thinks it fits better. But the most likely outcome is desk rejection.
– FuzzyLeapfrogJan 31 '17 at 19:57

1

I had (several years ago) a paper accepted in 2 days: we guessed the editor must have functioned as referee. This type of quick turnaround can occur - I've received referee reports within a week - although most referees are admittedly rarely that quick.
– user67075Feb 1 '17 at 2:37

@ZeroTheHero Anything is possible! I'm sure it depends on the journal. The journals I know have never accepted a regular submission without going through the R&R process.
– sessejFeb 1 '17 at 16:18

@sessej Yes I doubt my specific one-time example is the rule, but it ** can ** happen.
– user67075Feb 1 '17 at 17:14

1

Any publication where that can happen is a publication not worth publishing in, IMHO. [referring to the editor acting as referee. It's possible all reviewers act really really quickly and agree to accept, but that's extremely unlikely.]
– Fred DouglisMar 10 '17 at 17:17